The children’s program “Caillou” is officially dead. And the parents are dancing at the tomb of the “brat”.
“We are saying goodbye to @cailloudhx,” PBS Kids announced in a tweet along with “what to do when your child’s favorite media runs out” tips.
But it seems that the bald cartoon character was the least favorite animation star among mothers and fathers everywhere, who have been celebrating online since the news of the program’s cancellation was released.
“Caillou’s reign of terror is over !!” wrote a relieved viewer on Twitter, while other complaints from Caillou-skeptics include that the tot is contraband Charlie Brown, called it “brat” and “bad.”
Another added soberly, “You won’t be missed.”
The program aired for the first time in 1997 on Teletoon, and new episodes were released until 2010, after which Caillou ran the popular-children’s station – until recently.
The 4-year-old perennial child clearly did not win the hearts of the millennial family. According to the show’s theme song, Caillou enjoys exploring her fictional world on Pine Street with her parents, friends, grandparents, pets and puppet friends. The program included segments to teach young people to brush their teeth, the days of the week and how to deal with tantrums and sibling fights, which the titular character apparently struggled with during the five seasons that the program aired.
“Growing up is not so difficult, except when I’m fed up,” sings Caillou in the sequence of the show’s theme songs, which show the boy throwing toys and hitting his fists on the bathroom floor. Videos circulating online show Caillou pinching her little sister Rosieand whining for his mother. Some parents admit that Caillou’s bad behavior on the screen led them to ban the Canadian series from their home.
“This is the only program that he was not allowed to watch,” wrote a mother. Another adult created by PBS recalled: “This program was banned in my home and in many of my friends!”
Caillou also had his professional critics. An opinion piece from the Canadian newspaper The National Post categorized Caillou as a “shameless whiner”, adding that the toon, “turn[s] the young spectators of the show in strident monsters. “
With the cancellation starting in 2021, parents are relieved to see that Caillou is finally getting the punishment they believe he deserved it all this time.
Caillou passes the torch to some of PBS’s latest and most popular cartoon characters, including Daniel the Tiger, a former supporting character in “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood”; Pinkalicious, co-star of “Pinkalicious & Peterrific”; and Molly, a protagonist in 10-year-old “Molly of Denali”, native to Alaska.